Wikipedia

GetBackers

GetBackers(Japanese:GetBackers - đoạt còn phòng -,Hepburn:Gettobakkāzu Dakkan'ya,"GetBackers: Recovery Service" )is a Japanesemangaseries written byYuya Aokiand illustrated byRando Ayamine.It was serialized inKodansha'sshōnenmangamagazineWeekly Shōnen Magazinefrom March 1999 to February 2007, with its chapters collected in 39tankōbonvolumes. The plot follows the "GetBackers", a duo composed of two young men with supernatural abilities who retrieves anything that was lost.

GetBackers
Firsttankōbonvolume cover, featuring Ginji Amano (left) and Ban Mido (right)
GetBackers - đoạt còn phòng -
(Gettobakkāzu Dakkan'ya)
Genre
Manga
Written byYuya Aoki
Illustrated byRando Ayamine
Published byKodansha
English publisher
ImprintShōnen Magazine Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Magazine
DemographicShōnen
Original runMarch 23, 1999–February 21, 2007
Volumes39(List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed by
Produced by
  • Kaoru Sakamoto
  • Kazunori Noguchi
  • Satoshi Kohno
Written byAkemi Omode
Music byTaku Iwasaki
StudioStudio Deen
Licensed by
Original networkJNN(TBS)
English network
Original runOctober 5, 2002–September 20, 2003
Episodes49(List of episodes)
iconAnime and manga portal

A 49-episodeanimetelevision series adaptation animated byStudio Deenwas broadcast onTBSfrom October 2002 to September 2003. The manga series was licensed for English release in North America byTokyopop,which released 27 volumes between February 2004 and December 2008; its license expired in 2009.

Plot

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See also:List ofGetBackerscharacters

The series follows Ginji Amano and Ban Mido—a pair of super-powered individuals known as the "GetBackers". The duo operates a freelance repossession service operating out of one of the seedier areas ofShinjuku, Tokyo.For a fee, they will recover any lost or stolen item for a client with "an almost 100% success rate". The GetBackers' job often leads them into bizarre and dangerous situations in order to "get back what shouldn't be gone". Their targets range from lost video games to misplaced components of an atomic bomb. The story mostly revolves around their adventures, often complicated by the pair's individual convoluted pasts.

One of the main locations where the story develops is a mysterious place known as the Infinity Fortress (Limitless Fortress in the anime's English release). A conglomeration of disused, condemned buildings clustered together to form a self-contained habitat, the Infinity Fortress is subdivided into three specific tiers—Lower Town, the Beltline, and Babylon City. Lower Town is the lowest in altitude, with several layers extending below ground level. The Beltline is the most dangerous area of the Infinity Fortress. Babylon City, the uppermost level, is said to be where the Brain Trust—a secret organization responsible for the creation of the Infinity Fortress— resides, and is also the home of Ginji's mother. It is later revealed that Babylon City is the "real world", and the rest of the series' world consists of a virtual reality creation. To enter Babylon City, only those who win an event known as the Ogre Battle will be able to do so, and once they do, they can change the world as they see fit.

Ban and Ginji go to the Infinity Fortress; Ban goes to rescue a kidnapped girl named Himiko, and Ginji seeks a chance to reunite with his mother. Going to the Beltline, the GetBackers encounter various warriors taking orders from a being known as the Voodoo King. The Voodoo King seeks to unlock the gates of Babylon City, sealed several years ago by Ban's grandmother, the Witch Queen. The Voodoo King is eventually defeated, and following this, both Ban and Ginji face each other in the Ogre Battle. Ban gives up, impressed with Ginji's will, and Ginji goes to Babylon City, where he meets his mother from a parallel universe. She explains how she created the Infinity Fortress and its surrounding world. After a discussion between the two, the Infinity Fortress finally remains largely unchanged, except that the virtual people become real beings. Ban and Ginji continue their retrieval job, and the series concludes with the GetBackers accepting a mission that will lead them to meet Ban's mother.

Development

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Yuya Aokiconceived the idea ofGetBackerstwo years before it started serialization. By that time he had few notes about it. Aoki remembers giving many troubles to his editor when he started writing it, but was glad he could finish it.[3]The character of Ban Mido was originally meant to appear in another series from Aoki, but his editor liked it and wanted it to be one of the manga's protagonists. Ginji was meant to appear in the series, but his original personality was first meant to belong to Ban.[4]

Media

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Manga

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Main article:List of GetBackers chapters

GetBackers,written byYuya Aokiand illustrated byRando Ayamine,was serialized inKodansha'sshōnenmangaWeekly Shōnen Magazinefrom March 23, 1999,[a]to February 21, 2007.[b]Kodansha collected its chapters in 39tankōbonvolumes, released from August 17, 1999,[10]to April 17, 2007.[11]An additionalone-shotchapter was published inMagazine Specialon February 20, 2009.[12][13]

GetBackerswas licensed for English release in North America byTokyopop,who first announced the acquisition in the Anime Expo 2004 in July 2003.[14]Tokyopop divided the manga in two parts:GetBackersfeaturing the first twenty-five andGetBackers: Infinity Fortressthe following ones. The volumes were published from February 10, 2004, to July 7, 2008;[1][15]only the first two volumes ofInfinity Fortresswere released.[16]On August 31, 2009, Tokyopop announced that the rights to the series had expired.[17]

An artbook, titledG/Bwas released on March 15, 2005.[18]A guidebook, titledGetBackers: The Last Piece,was released on April 17, 2007, containing information about the series' plot, characters, and popularity polls.[19]

Anime

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Main article:List of GetBackers episodes

Theanimeadaptation of theGetBackersseries was produced byStudio Deenand was directed byKazuhiro Furuhashiand Keitaro Motonaga.[20]The series was broadcast for 49 episodes onTBSfrom October 5, 2002, to September 20, 2003.[21]The series was released toRegion 2DVD in Japan by TBS in seventeen individual volumes with three episodes per disc.[22]The anime's music was composed by Taku Iwasaki, and two original soundtracks were released byPioneer Corporationon January 24 and July 25, 2003.[23][24]

The anime was first licensed in English byADV Films.The series was released on ten DVD volumes from August 24, 2004, to November 1, 2005.[25][26]Two DVD box sets were released on October 10, 2006, and January 2, 2007,[27][28]The entire series was released on single box set on January 15, 2008.[29]In April 2009, A.D. Vision started streaming the series online on itsAnime Networkwebsite.[30]The series has been re-licensed bySentai Filmworks,who re-released it on DVD on May 8, 2012.[31][32]On August 25, 2016, the series began airing onShortsTV.[33]

The series was broadcast onAnimax Asiain Southeast Asia,[34]andABS-CBN/Studio 23in the Philippines.[35]

Drama CDs

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Twodrama CDshave been released for the story arcs not found in the TV series, namely the news involving the GetBackers searching for disappeared kids involved with a card game named the Divine Design, their search for a red wine named the Marine Red, and the war between Shido Fuyuki's clan, the Maryudo and their rivals, the Kiryudo. The first CD, entitled 'GetBackers "TARGET G" ', was released February 21, 2003.[36]The second entitled 'GetBackers "TARGET B" ' was released on March 21, 2003.[37]

Video games

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A total of five video games based onGetBackershave been released in Japan, all of them developed and published byKonami.The first was a fighting gameGetBackers Dakkanoku: Ubawareta Mugenshirofor thePlayStation 2and PC on September 26, 2002.[38]GetBackers Dakkanoku - Jagan Fuuin!followed it in 2003 for the PC and Game Boy Advance, as well as the PC exclusive RPGGetBackers Dakkanoku: Metropolis Dakkan Sakusen!.[39][40]Two more fighting games,GetBackers Dakkanoku: Dakkandayo! Zenin Shuugou!andGetBackers Dakkanoku - Urashinshiku Saikyou Battle,were released in 2003 and 2004, respectively.[41][42]While the former was only for PCs, the latter was also released for the PlayStation 2. Rando Ayamine worked for all these video games, making illustrations for them.[43][44]

The 2009PlayStation Portablefighting game,Sunday vs Magazine: Shūketsu! Chōjō Daikessen,also produced by Konami, included Ban Mido as a playable character.[45]

Reception

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GetBackersmanga has had over 18 million copies in circulation.[12]English volumes from the manga have also been popular, appearing various times inDiamond Comic's rankings of best selling graphic novels.[46][47]Anime News Network's Liann Cooper has commented on the manga, praising for using the "simple concept" in order to create an entertaining plot. The manga has been noted to have a large number of types offan service,showing several kinds of beautiful women and noted a "relationship" between the two main characters and giving the series a nicebishōnentone. The art ofRando Ayaminehas been praised for having the dark and gritty mood emphasizes he makes in the series making readers think that the Jagan scene ofBan Midois a "horrifying nightmare". TheTokyopoptranslation of the manga has been criticized for making the main characters sound like gangsters giving them strange dialogues.[48]Cooper later noted that readers fromClamp's works orRurouni Kenshinwould findGetBackersappealing due to the several aspects it has.[49]He still found issues with Tokyopop's translation, but still found the final product entertaining, also complimenting the series' comedy.[50]

The anime adaptation ofGetBackerswas also well received. In the 26th annualAnimagereaders' poll, it took various categories: it was third in "Favorite Anime Series", ninth in "Favorite Episode" (episode 49) and fifth and eighth in "Favorite Male Character" (Ginji and Ban, respectively).[51]It also received positive reviews ever since the first episode's premiere in Japan. For such an episode, Anime News Network liked the animations' quality as well as the main characters Ban and Ginji. The mix between drama and comedy was also well-received, hoping that it will continue like that for the remainder of the series.[52]DVD Talk's John Sinnott called it a "solid show", enjoying the characters' growth as the series continued. However, he gave a low score on the DVDs' presentation mainly due to the lack of extras.[53]While comparing it with the manga, Chris Beveridge from Mania Entertainment found the anime's introduction more appealing than the manga's but mentioned various issues already shown in the first episodes of various anime.[54]Bamboo Dong from Anime News Network enjoyed how the story was built during the first season, finding appealing the fact that the characters he found appealing would take part in a larger story arc.[55]Agreeing with Dong, Dani Moure from Mania liked the interaction between the characters, as well as a bigger exploration to some of them.[56]Sinott concluded that the story arc involving the Limitless Fortress was "a good story" due to the expansion in the backgrounds from various of the main characters, but found it relatively longer than previous story arcs.[57]Active Anime writer David C. Jones praised the focus on the anime's second season, liking how many secondary characters got their own episodes, as well as how the comedy was delivered across them, citing the episode focused on Ginji in the hospital as the best one from the season.[58]On the other hand, Beveridge found that in the second season, characters were "overused", but like Jones, enjoyed the focus on other characters as well as the flashbacks exploring them.[59]The anime's last story arc left mixed thoughts to Beveridge who found some of its events predictable or rushed, but still enjoyed the action sequences shown.[60]

Notes

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  1. ^The series started in the magazine's 17th issue of 1999 (cover dateApril 7),[5]released on March 23 of the same year.[6]
  2. ^The series finished in the magazine's 12th issue of 2007 (cover dateMarch 7),[7]released on February 21 of the same year.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^abc"GetBackers Volume 1".Tokyopop.Archived fromthe originalon June 6, 2004.RetrievedJanuary 4,2020.
  2. ^"Get Backers".Sentai Filmworks.Archivedfrom the original on August 8, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 20,2018.
  3. ^Aoki, Yuya (2004). "Act 1: Behind the scenes Story".GetBackers, Volume 1.Tokyopop.ISBN978-1-59182-633-0.
  4. ^Aoki, Yuya (2004). "Character Profiles #1".GetBackers, Volume 6.Tokyopop.p. 46.ISBN978-1-59182-638-5.
  5. ^Tuần san thiếu niên マガジン1999 năm 17.Media Arts Database(in Japanese).Agency for Cultural Affairs.Archivedfrom the original on March 16, 2023.RetrievedMarch 16,2023.
  6. ^Đổi mới tình báo(in Japanese).Kodansha.Archived fromthe originalon April 7, 2000.RetrievedMarch 15,2023.1999.03.23 tuần san thiếu niên マガジンNo.17 tình báo đăng lục
  7. ^Tuần san thiếu niên マガジン 2007 năm tỏ vẻ số thứ tự 12.Media Arts Database(in Japanese).Agency for Cultural Affairs.Archivedfrom the original on March 25, 2021.RetrievedMarch 8,2020.
  8. ^Ayamine, Rando(February 20, 2007).アニメとか ánh họa とか・・・.Rando Ayamine's Diary.Archivedfrom the original on March 15, 2023.RetrievedMarch 15,2023.さて ngày mai はマガジン phát bán ngày. とうとうGB の cuối cùng hồi ですね.[The magazine will be out tomorrow. It's finally the last chapter ofGB.]
  9. ^Ayamine, Rando(February 21, 2007).Cuối cùng hồi です!.Rando Ayamine's Diary.Archivedfrom the original on March 15, 2023.RetrievedMarch 15,2023.
  10. ^GetBackers đoạt còn phòng (1)[GetBackers: Recovery Service (1)] (in Japanese).Kodansha.Archived fromthe originalon November 2, 2003.RetrievedAugust 8,2009.
  11. ^GetBackers đoạt còn phòng (39)[GetBackers: Recovery Service (39)] (in Japanese).Kodansha.Archived fromthe originalon June 6, 2012.RetrievedMarch 2,2023.
  12. ^abLoo, Egan (January 21, 2009)."GetBackers Manga Returns in One-Shot Side Story".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on February 7, 2023.RetrievedMarch 2,2023.
  13. ^マガジンＳＰＥＣＩＡＬ No.3 2009 năm 0 ngày 20 tháng 2(in Japanese). Archived fromthe originalon May 1, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  14. ^"Tokyopop Announces Seven '04 Manga Series".ICv2. July 7, 2003.Archivedfrom the original on June 11, 2011.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
  15. ^"GetBackers Volume 25".Tokyopop.Archived fromthe originalon June 15, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  16. ^Aoki, Deb (September 1, 2009)."The Kodansha-TokyoPop Split: Which Manga Are Left in Limbo?".About.Archived fromthe originalon April 11, 2014.RetrievedOctober 13,2010.
  17. ^Loo, Egan (August 31, 2009)."Tokyopop Confirms Its Kodansha Manga Licenses Will End".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on September 3, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 1,2009.
  18. ^G/B GetBackers đoạt hoàn nguyên họa tập[G/B GetBackers: Recovery Service – Artbook] (in Japanese).Kodansha.Archived fromthe originalon November 25, 2005.RetrievedOctober 18,2010.
  19. ^GetBackers 〜 đoạt còn phòng 〜The Last Piece[GetBackers: Recovery Service – The Last Piece] (in Japanese).Kodansha.Archived fromthe originalon October 19, 2012.RetrievedOctober 18,2010.
  20. ^"GetBackers Staff"(in Japanese).Tokyo Broadcasting System.Archivedfrom the original on January 22, 2021.RetrievedOctober 18,2010.
  21. ^"Works Information"(in Japanese).Studio Deen.Archived fromthe originalon July 19, 2011.RetrievedOctober 10,2010.
  22. ^DVDリリーススケジュール(in Japanese).Tokyo Broadcasting System.Archivedfrom the original on April 15, 2008.RetrievedApril 24,2008.
  23. ^GetBackers đoạt còn phòng オリジナル・サウンドトラック(in Japanese).Oricon.Archivedfrom the original on September 19, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  24. ^GetBackers～ đoạt còn phòng ～オリジナル・サウンドトラック2 [TWINS](in Japanese).Oricon.Archivedfrom the original on September 19, 2024.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  25. ^Beveridge, Chris (September 8, 2004)."Get Backers Vol. #01 (also w/box) (of 10)".Mania.Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  26. ^Beveridge, Chris (September 8, 2004)."Get Backers Vol. #10".Mania.Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  27. ^Dungan, Mike (October 10, 2006)."Get Backers Season 1 Box Set (Thinpak)".Mania.Archived fromthe originalon February 11, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  28. ^Dungan, Mike (November 1, 2006)."Get Backers Season 2 Box Set (Thinpak)".Mania.Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  29. ^Thompson, Mark (September 8, 2008)."Get Backers Complete Series Collection (Thinpak)".Mania.Archived fromthe originalon February 6, 2009.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  30. ^"Anime Network Streams GetBackers, Pet Shop of Horrors".Anime News Network. April 18, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on October 12, 2010.RetrievedOctober 18,2010.
  31. ^Loo, Egan."Sentai Filmworks Licenses GetBackers Anime".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 1,2012.
  32. ^Hodgkins, Crystalyn (May 8, 2012)."North American Anime, Manga Releases, May 6–12".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on October 17, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  33. ^@ShortsHD (July 15, 2016)."GETBACKERS *STARTS 25TH AUGUST 2016*: http://youtu.be/zOMaWrVFhVE?a via @YouTube"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
  34. ^"Mega Zone".Animax Asia.Archived fromthe originalon July 23, 2004.RetrievedSeptember 19,2024.
  35. ^Bravo, Bernadette Canave (2012).Japanese Cultural Influence in the Philippines Through Anime's Popularity and Persuasiveness(PDF)(Thesis).Waseda University.List of Anime Shown in ABS-CBN. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on May 18, 2015.RetrievedMay 11,2015.
  36. ^"GetBackers" TARGET G "".Neowing.Archivedfrom the original on August 17, 2009.RetrievedMarch 14,2009.
  37. ^"GetBackers" TARGET B "".Neowing.Archivedfrom the original on August 17, 2009.RetrievedMarch 14,2009.
  38. ^GetBackers đoạt còn phòng 〜 đoạt われた vô hạn thành 〜(in Japanese). Konami.Archivedfrom the original on June 15, 2011.RetrievedOctober 26,2010.
  39. ^GetBackers đoạt còn phòng 〜 tà mắt phong ấn 〜(in Japanese). Konami.Archivedfrom the original on June 15, 2011.RetrievedOctober 26,2010.
  40. ^GetBackers đoạt còn phòng 〜メトロポリス đoạt còn làm chiến!〜(in Japanese). Konami.Archivedfrom the original on June 15, 2011.RetrievedOctober 26,2010.
  41. ^GetBackers đoạt còn phòng 〜 đoạt còn だヨ! Toàn viên tập hợp!!〜(in Japanese). Konami.Archivedfrom the original on June 15, 2011.RetrievedOctober 26,2010.
  42. ^GetBackers đoạt còn phòng tân túc mạnh nhất バトル(in Japanese). Konami.Archivedfrom the original on June 15, 2011.RetrievedOctober 26,2010.
  43. ^Aoki, Yuya (2007). "Character Profiles #1".GetBackers, Volume 18.Tokyopop.p. 176.ISBN978-1-59182-980-5.
  44. ^Aoki, Yuya (2005).G/B.Kodansha.ISBN978-4-06-364611-5.
  45. ^"Konami Mashes Manga Characters Together For PSP Fighter".Siliconera.January 29, 2009.Archivedfrom the original on January 24, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 24,2023.
  46. ^"Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual--May 2005".ICv2. June 20, 2005.Archivedfrom the original on May 29, 2010.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
  47. ^"Top 100 Graphic Novels Actual--April 2004".ICv2. May 24, 2004.Archivedfrom the original on May 15, 2013.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
  48. ^Cooper, Liann (April 27, 2004)."GetBackers G. Novel 1: Vol. 1".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on April 17, 2008.RetrievedApril 30,2008.
  49. ^Cooper, Liann (August 19, 2004)."Right turn only".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on May 12, 2011.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
  50. ^Cooper, Liann (August 19, 2004)."RIGHT TURN ONLY!! Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on May 12, 2011.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
  51. ^"Animage Awards".Anime News Network.May 12, 2004.Archivedfrom the original on April 22, 2008.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
  52. ^Bertschy, Zac; Bundy, Rebecca (October 11, 2002)."The Fall 2002 Anime Season Preview Guide".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on February 9, 2013.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
  53. ^Sinnott, John (August 19, 2004)."Get Backers Seasons 1-2".DVD Talk.Internet Brands.Archivedfrom the original on January 16, 2010.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
  54. ^Beveridge, Chris (September 8, 2004)."Get Backers Vol. #01".Mania Entertainment.Demand Media.Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2009.RetrievedOctober 16,2010.
  55. ^Dong, Bamboo (January 24, 2005)."Shelf Life Back With A Vengeance".Anime News Network.Archivedfrom the original on April 16, 2010.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
  56. ^Moure, Dani (June 7, 2005)."Get Backers Vol. #03".Mania Entertainment.Demand Media. Archived fromthe originalon February 20, 2009.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
  57. ^Sinnott, John (April 26, 2005)."Get Backers Vol. 5 - Virtual Apocalypse".DVD Talk.Internet Brands.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2011.RetrievedOctober 6,2010.
  58. ^Jones, Davey C. (January 25, 2007)."Get Backers Complete Season 2 Box Set".Active Anime.Archivedfrom the original on December 11, 2011.RetrievedDecember 10,2011.
  59. ^Beveridge, Chris (August 11, 2005)."Get Backers Vol. #08".Mania Entertainment.Demand Media. Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2009.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
  60. ^Beveridge, Chris (September 14, 2005)."Get Backers Vol. #09".Mania Entertainment.Demand Media. Archived fromthe originalon June 8, 2009.RetrievedOctober 15,2010.
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